Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has broken his silence in court as his highly publicized sex trafficking trial nears its conclusion. After six weeks of proceedings, both the prosecution and defense rested their cases on Tuesday, June 24, prompting Judge Arun Subramanian to ask the Bad Boy Records founder a critical question: Would he take the stand in his own defense?
The question, a standard in any U.S. criminal trial, requires the defendant to confirm that their decision to testify—or not—is made voluntarily.
“That is my decision, Your Honour. That is solely my decision. I mean, it’s my decision with my lawyers… Yes, my decision, I’m making it,” Combs responded, according to CNN.
Diddy Praises the Judge in Rare Courtroom Moment
In a surprising moment of levity, Judge Subramanian followed up by asking Combs how he was feeling. The 54-year-old artist responded positively:
“I’m doing great, Your Honour,” he said, then added, “I’ve been wanting to tell you thank you, you’re doing an excellent job.”
The unexpected praise reportedly made the judge chuckle, as first reported by People magazine.
Witnesses and Legal Strategy
Throughout the trial, Combs remained silent while the prosecution called 34 witnesses, including high-profile figures such as his ex-girlfriend Cassie, rapper Kid Cudi, and former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard. The testimony offered a detailed and often disturbing account of Combs’ alleged actions.
Interestingly, Combs’ legal team chose not to call any witnesses for the defense. Former federal prosecutor Mark D. Chutkow commented on this strategy, noting that it would be risky for the music icon to testify.
“It would be a big gamble for Diddy to take the stand,” Chutkow said. “Even though the prosecution has introduced a mountain of evidence, they’d be able to pile on even more evidence of bad acts during cross-examination.”
As the trial heads toward closing arguments, the entertainment industry and the public await the verdict in one of the most controversial legal battles involving a major music figure in recent years.
